15 Taliban killed in North Waziristan drone strike

A US drone fired two missile at a suspected Taliban hideout in North Waziristan killing 15 militants, a media report said on Saturday.

A US drone fired two missile at a suspected Taliban hideout in North Waziristan killing 15 militants, a media report said on Saturday.

Online news agency said the attack occurred early Saturday in the Muhammad Khel area of North Wazrisitan bordering Afghanistan.

The targeted area was believed to be a hideout for the local Taliban and was also a base for insurgents belonging to the militant's Haqqani network that is known for staging attacks on US and NATO troops in Afghanistan

Nine local militants, four Arabs and two Uzbeks were among those killed, Online quoted a private TV channel to say.

The Pakistani government publicly condemns the strikes but US officials say they are necessary to protect foreign soldiers stationed in Afghanistan, and say a number of high-value extremists have been killed in the bombing raids.

The lawless North Waziristan region has been the focus of US strikes since the bombing of a US intelligence base by a Jordanian double agent, who appeared sitting next to Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud in his farewell video.

The drone attacks in North Waziristan and neighbouring South Waziristan had begun in mid-2008. Some 700 people, among them many civilians, have been killed in the 80-odd attacks in the region so far.